GLOBAL UMMAH SOLIDARITY

BLUEPRINT OF THE UMMAH IN THE 21ST CENTURY

DECEMBER 16-17, 2006

The focus of the conference will be on designing a blueprint of change towards realizing the Islamic world-system (Ummah) in the twenty-first century. The blueprint would provide a well thought out, coherent and pragmatic way of galvanizing the collective will of intellectuals, communities and practitioners across all Muslim regions, including those in non-Muslim countries, in respect to globalization. The goal and end-result of the world-system of Islam or the Ummah is collective thinking. This must be intellectualized and implemented by the common and concerted will for acquiring knowledge and organization for Islamic transformation in the global order.

Besides, topics on developmental issues of the Ummah in the blueprint will discuss methodological issues in world-system and policy-making perspectives from diverse ideological viewpoints. The assumption made is that human co-existence can be discovered by inter-cultural and inter-ideological discourse and understanding.

Highly academic, applied and practical oriented papers in the mentioned topics or other areas on the theme of the conference are invited.

CONTACT: Professor Dr. Masudul Alam Choudhury, Cape Breton University, Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6L2, CANADA masud_choudhury@capebretonu.ca; Fax. 902-562-0119; Tel: 902-563-1236; 902-567-2173. See http://ummah.f2g.net

Professor Sofyan S Harahap, Trisakti University, Grogol, Jakarta, syafri@indo.net.id;  Fax 62-21-5669178, see http://www.ief-trisakti.or.id

DEADLINES: Abstracts – March 31, 2006; Final Papers for review and acceptance – September 30, 2006. Submit abstracts and papers by e-mail attachment to masud_choudhury@capebretonu.ca; masud_choudhury@hotmail.com  

FINANCING

Participants finance their travel and accommodation costs. Trisakti University will cover other local hospitality. Papers presented will be reviewed for publication either in the international refereed journal, Humanomics, An International Journal of Systems and Ethics (HIJSE) or the Indonesian Management and Accounting Review (IMAR). HIJSE is catalogued in the Journal of Economic Literature and Cabell.

Coverage and topics:

Political Philosophy and Institutional Issues of the Ummah vis-à-vis the Global Order

The Political Process of Islam and Liberal Democracy

Policy and Institutional Harmonization in the Muslim World:  Standardizing Shari’ah Rules for the Ummah

The Embedded World-System of Islam: Interrelating Economy, Society, Institutions and Political Philosophy

Values and Relations between Islam and the Global Order in the Context of Social Justice, Participatory Development and Wellbeing

Social Blueprint of the Islamic World-System: Human Resource. Development and Socio-Economic Issues

The Role of Education, Health, Skill Formation and other Human Resource Development in Islamic Transformation

Priority Areas for Research, Development and Their Implementation

Towards a Participatory World-System: Microenterprise and Corporate Culture, Alleviating Poverty by Empowerment, Economic Cooperation

Economic Blueprint of the Ummah: Economics, Finance and Banking

Islamic Money and the Gold Dinar: Monetary, Fiscal Policies and  International Trade to Realize Socio-Economic Development

Role of Economic Institutions such as, Islamic Banks, Insurance, Commerce, Governments and Supra-National Organizations in Ummah Blueprint

Resources of the Muslim World (Natural, Human, Intellectual and Technological) – How can these enable Economic Integration in

Realizing Wellbeing of the Ummah?

Economic Blueprint of the Ummah in the Midst of Globalization

Evolution towards an Islamic Economic Union

Problems of Socio-Economic Development in the Ummah

Issues and Prospects of Islamic Economic Co-operation (Economic, Financial and Monetary Integration) vis-à-vis Globalization and International Development Organizations

THE UMMAH AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES :

RE-ORGANISING THE OIC

Dr Muhammad Ahsan

The ‘change’ in global affairs is a continuous phenomenon. Thus, it is not new that centres of power have been changing from country to country and region to region. However, what is new is the velocity of this change. After the fall of the Soviet Union in general and the events of 9/11 in particular, the world has witnessed major changes within a short span of time. While on the one hand these changes have made the Untied States the sole super power of the world, on the other they have seriously affected the image, solidarity and integrity of the Muslim World. Therefore, in one way or another and directly or indirectly, this situation has adversely affected nearly five dozen Muslim countries and 1.5 billion Muslims all over the world. It is widely argued that the two major internal factors responsible for the sorry state of Ummatic affairs are underdevelopment and a lack of unity. Although, in this context, a lot has been written in the recent past, no comprehensive document has been produced so far covering all major challenges faced by the Ummah as well as their possible solutions. Thus, in this context, the present study is a unique effort.

By covering various aspects of the issues of Ummatic underdevelopment, globalisation, the geo-political and religio-cultural situation, Islamophobia, human insecurity and Ummatic defence, the report presents a comprehensive analysis of the situation. Apart from this, there are at least five major points which make this document a unique effort in this field. Firstly, the report is based on in-depth statistical and factual analysis. Secondly, data is acquired from a large number of authentic sources. Thirdly, it is designed in such a way that the spectrum of its audience is broad. Fourthly, it discusses the re-organisation of the OIC – an extremely important issue which has never been tackled in such a way as is discussed in this study. The last chapter presents a model and a long-term strategy to strengthen the OIC. Last, but not least, it must be mentioned that the analysis is based on the pre-situation of the recent economic blockade of

the Palestinian government, devastating attacks on the Lebanon as well as a sea-blockade of this country - all committed by Israel. In this context, Muslim countries see themselves paralysed and the role of the OIC as shameful. In these circumstances, the conclusion of the present study suggests the pooling of Ummatic financial resources and the establishment of a joint security system for all Muslim countries.  See the following site:-  http://www.ipripak.org/papers/theummah.shtml

KNOWLEDGE , UNITY URGED IN MUSLIM FORUM

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satel...FNWELayout 

Muslim leaders called Monday, May 28, on Muslim countries to keep pace with the developed world through knowledge, innovation and unity, while urged more collective efforts to heal the Islam-West rift.

"The loss of knowledge and innovation within the Muslim ummah eventually led to the loss of sovereignty and empire," Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) that opened in Kuala Lumpur, reported Agence France Presse (AFP).

"We must rediscover our ability and passion for knowledge and innovation.... We must reclaim this legacy."

Abdullah affirmed that in a world that is more globalized and knowledge-based every day, Muslims have no other option but to be creative or left behind.

"Over the years, the Muslim Ummah has deteriorated and declined. While the nations of the West basked in the glory of their global ascendancy, Muslim nations were largely consigned to what people term the 'Third World'," he said.

He noted that the 57 members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) accounted for only five percent of world's gross domestic product in 2005 despite comprising 21 percent of the global population.

Abdullah, the current chairman of the OIC, added that Muslim nations must take bold measures such as investing heavily in education and human development.

"Clearly, much more effort and resources need to be put into education," Abdullah told the forum.

Many oil-rich OIC nations spend less on education than developed ones, he said.

Viewed as the Muslim world's version of the World Economic Forum, the WIEF is held this year under the theme "Global Challenges: Innovative Partnerships".

The two-day event attracted about 900 participants, with representatives from the OIC countries, India, China, the US and Europe.

"Collective Force"

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the forum that firstly Muslims need to build up their unity as a basic step towards development.

"We in the Islamic ummah can achieve true solidarity among ourselves ... and reclaim the eminence that (we) enjoyed in the Golden Age of Islam," he urged.

Yudhoyono, who leads the world's most populous Muslim country, said that Islamic nations need to believe they are not helpless and work "as a collective force" for their own development.

"We are not weak. We appear weak because we do not act in concert," he said.

The Indonesian leader said Muslim nations should use as leverage their position as suppliers for 70 percent of the world's energy requirements and 40 percent of raw material exports globally.

"If the nations of the rest of the world want our energy and our commodities, we must also obtain from them, in fair exchange, knowledge and technology," he noted.

Islam-West Divide

Yudhoyono also called Muslim nations to work together to heal the widening chasm with the West.

Muslims must change the Western view of Islam "from something negative or indifferent if not hostile to something positive and enthusiastic," he said.

This year's forum focuses on Muslims-West relations.

Participants of the annual event tackle promoting understanding and dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslim societies.

Tensions between the Islamic world and the West have deepened following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US.

Media campaigns driven by right-wingers have left the gap yawning.

In September 2005, Danish Jyallands Posten newspaper drew Muslim diatribe after publishing a set of provocative cartoons that lampooned Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

Pope Benedict XVI added insult to injury in a 2006 lecture in his native Germany in which he linked Islam with violence.

Last year, a survey by the American Pew Global Attitudes Project concluded that Westerners and Muslims share negative views

While many in the West see Muslims as fanatical, violent and intolerant, Muslims view Westerners as selfish, immoral and greedy, according to the global poll.

WE ARABS MUST WAGE A NEW FORM OF JIHAD

Ahmed Zewail
http://comment.independent.co.uk/comment...221287.ece

The cataclysmic wars in Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq have uncovered the reality of Arab unity and plight, and the collective conscience of international society. It is abundantly clear that the Arab people must themselves build a new system for a new future. The current state, as judged by a low GDP, high level of illiteracy, and deteriorating performance in education and science, is neither in consonance with their hearts and minds nor does it provide for their political, economic, and educational aspirations.

Yet this is the same Arab world that produced leading civilisations, world-class universities, and renowned scholars and scientists. Clearly, something has gone seriously astray.

As someone from, and directly involved with, this part of the world, I am convinced Arabs are qualified to regain their glorious past. Arabs have two-thirds of "proved oil reserves", and copious sunlight for possible alternative energy. They have their own market, the potential for an Arab Union, and many Arab countries are strategically positioned, geographically and politically. The people have a unique culture of community and family values, and their faith is inclusive and pluralistic. Above all, the Arab world has people with talent and creativity, with nearly half of the population in its youth. These are forces for progress, but without nurturing intrinsic talent and establishing a cogent system of governance the status quo will prevail.

In my view, there are four "pillars of change" that would support an imperative historic renaissance for transforming the current state of affairs. First, a new political system must be established with, at its core, a constitution defining the democratic principles of human rights, freedom of speech, and governance through contested elections. A select delegation of honorable intellectuals, respected political personalities, and thoughtful religious scholars, perhaps under the patronage of supreme-court judges, should form a council to debate and chart a new constitution for a final referendum involving the people. The co-existence of religious values in the lives of individuals and secular rules in the governance of the state should be clearly defined. There is no need to fear conflict, as reason and faith are driving forces in western democratic societies and in some Muslim countries such as Turkey and Malaysia.

Second, the rule of law must in practice be applied to every individual, independent of caste, faith, or background. Currently, some rules of law are either unenforced or selectively enforced, resulting in demoralising practices. Besides being a prime cause of poor economic growth, poor governance breeds corruption which cripples investment, wastes resources, and diminishes confidence. If rules are applied fairly, people acquire security and faith in their system.

Third, the methods used in education, cultural practices, and scientific research must be revisited, reviewed, and revitalised. The goal should be to promote critical thinking and a value system of reasoning, discipline, and teamwork. The government should remain responsible for the primary education of all. Higher education should be based on quality not quantity, receive merit-based funding, and be free of unnecessary bureaucracy. Not the least of the benefits of educational reform is to foster the pride of achievement at national and international levels.

Fourth, an overhauling of the Arab media is necessary. Currently, there are numerous satellite TV channels and several so-called media cities generously financed, perhaps much more than research institutions. Yet people are inundated with mind-numbing and propaganda programmes. The conceptually new al-Jazeera has become a very effective news media among millions of Arabs; similar media outlets concerned with cultural, social, and educational events should be established.

The primary objective is to stimulate minds and encourage critical thinking for civilised debates and dialogues. Governments should control neither the news nor appointment of editors; quality and appropriateness should be controlled by the judgement of professionals and the wisdom of society in accordance with the rule of law.

We Arabs can accomplish the transition to the world of the 21st century, but the people and leaders must embark on a new course. Incremental changes - so-called gradual reforms - are inappropriate for a system that has been ineffective for decades. We should have confidence in ourselves and in global participation, and not blame others for current calamities or use religion for political gains. The responsibility of the individual for self and societal improvement is clearly stated in The Koran: "Indeed! God will not change the good condition of the people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves."

I appeal to the Arab people to participate in this process of historic change and not to be distracted by the ideologies of the past and conspiracy theories of the future. Being passive creates a state of apathy and legitimises the status quo. I call on intellectuals to focus on the greater good, not just for personal gain. Conscience and integrity are national responsibilities in this critical period of history. I urge the leaders of the Arab world to implement these historical changes and, in so doing, become makers of history. A genuine and peaceful transition to democracy is both legitimate and timely.

Before too long the oil will run out and human talent will migrate, but if we commit to "pillars of change", with jihad for modernity and enlightenment, we will realise our rightful place in the future.

The writer is the only Arab to receive the Nobel Prize in Science, 1999